Goodbye, Tom Clancy

As you probably know, Tom Clancy the author who invented the techno thriller died yesterday. I always enjoyed his books – simultaneously wanting to know how the story ends and wanting the story to continue.

Clancy was supposed to speak at a Navy Supply Corps Workshop back in the 1980s. He was working on a book, and the story went 300+ pages longer than he had anticipated, so he sent a videotape instead. The book was “Clear and Present Danger.”

In the videotape, he commented how people asked his advice, so “as a best-selling author,” he advised this, and “as a best-selling author” he recommended that. I was a bit put off.

He then pointed out how he kept referring to himself as a “best-selling author.” He related how in the past he had sold insurance and people would cross the street so they wouldn’t have to talk with him. Now, everybody liked to talk with him.